By Ross Norton
Media Relations

James Nampushi has great respect for the lion that almost killed him.

That lion made James an honored warrior, a hero and eventually the first college graduate among his Maasai people. And it was the lion that brought James to Clemson where soon he will earn his master’s degree and begin working on a Ph.D. in park management.

That was not the lion’s objective, of course, but that’s the way it happened. It’s impossible to know what the lion was thinking, exactly, but James has an idea. Lions just know things, he said.

And that day, the great predator knew its life was in danger. He identified the bravest of three Maasai men moving closer. And the lion knew that he or the leader — perhaps both — would die.

“The lion also was brave,” James said.

The bravest of the three young warriors, according to the songs and the stories and the witnesses — not to mention the lion — was James Nampushi. Now, he is a 29-year-old graduate student in Clemson’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management department. Then, he was 19 and a candidate for the honored status of Maasai warrior.

After a lifetime of living among the most dangerous animals of Kenya, the three youth had reached the age where the Maasai test the character and courage of their young men to see if they are worthy of the full mantle of Maasai warrior.

“For you to become a warrior, you have to be tested,” James said. “You have to prove the bravery. You have to prove that you are courageous, that you are able to face the beast of the jungle, the lion king, and use your spear and bare hands to kill with the most appropriate skills. That you can kill the lion and survive.”

To understand why the Maasai kill lions, it is necessary to understand their relationship with cows.

“Cows are our life partners,” James said. “I would rather have nine cows than $9 million in my account.”

Shortly after James arrived in Clemson, he was feeling the anxiety and stress of life in a foreign country. A friend took him to a cattle farm where he stood among the cows for a time and felt their calming influence.

“The cows, they brought me peace. They made me happy,” he said.

While others in East Africa learned to cultivate the land and depend on a cash economy, the Maasai continued to live off the blood, milk and meat of their cattle. As the rest of Kenyan society modernized, the government kept the Maasai on the margins for the benefit of tourism, James believes. So their relationship with nature remains raw. When lions killed seven cows one night, the Maasai response would be to discipline the lions — to remind them that cows are off limits.

James and two others were chosen to pursue and kill one of the lions. As the elders saw it, the lion needed killing, and the three young men needed to prove they were worthy warriors.

When the young men found the lion, James directed the other two into position. The three would place themselves in a triangle around the lion so that their spears would not strike each other if they missed the lion. The lion saw that it was James giving the orders, that it was James taking charge, that it was James who was bravest. So the lion attacked James.

The lion was just 15 feet away when it made its move. James had little time to react. He aimed his spear for a place on the charging lion’s breast that he knew covered a vulnerable center of veins and organs.

“But the lion was also brave in coming,” James said. “He dodged and I didn’t get the target, but I got close.”

As the lion leaped with its entire weight toward James, the six-foot spear sank deep into the length of its body. Only the last three inches were outside the breast. It was a serious wound to the animal, but not immediately fatal. For the moment, the lion intended to keep fighting.

It snared James’ left hand with its jaws. James pulled a short sword he carried at his side, intending to cut the lion’s throat.

“But the lion gave me a kick on the elbow, and my sword was thrown out,” James said.

Now James is held in the mouth of a lion, and his only remaining weapons are the other two warriors. But they can’t help without harming James. The lion lifts James and uses him as a shield, placing James between him and the other spears. In doing so, it pushes a front paw at the left of James’ stomach. James doesn’t know it yet, but the sharp claw cuts so deeply that his intestines bulge from the wound. When the lion rips a gash at his lower right leg, blood rushes from James so fast that his strength wanes. As he loses consciousness, James is still held fast by the lion.

‘If nature says you die, you die’

It is a long way from the bush to Lehotsky Hall for James Simiren Ole Nampushi. James’ village had no running water, no electricity, not even a table. He studied on the floor of a hut in the evenings by kerosene light with a small box on his lap. In the mornings, he ran nine miles to school. He ran to avoid elephants and buffalo.

Everyone drank from a watering hole, but they shared it with the animals. And humans are not at the top of the pecking order at the watering hole. The elephants go first, the buffalo drink second, and so it goes until the people get a turn, right after the cattle. By then the water is unclean, and the people use only their clothing as a filter.

His people don’t even bother to dream about college in America. They busy themselves with survival.

“Nature dictates how long and when you live. If nature says you die, you die. You have no options,” James said.

After eight years, he went to a boarding high school where he experienced his first taste of modern conveniences.

“When I went to high school, I saw a new beginning. I saw the [electric] power, I saw the water from the tap, and I saw for the first time a sink,” James said. “I put on shoes for the first time.”

He said it took a year to get comfortable in shoes. James still is not accustomed to a mattress, and he credits the cow skin he slept on as a child for the strength of his back. On holidays, he returned to his village, where he helped the other young people herd goats and cows.

With a lifetime of training behind him, he became a running champion at school, though eventually he gave up athletics to concentrate on academics. He came to believe that the survival of his culture would depend upon better education for his people.

When he graduated from the school, there was still the matter of becoming a warrior. It was his and his cohort’s need to prove their worthiness that put them on the path to battle the lion.

Fortunately for James, gravely wounded and helpless under the claws and teeth of an injured and angry lion, his friends were up to the task. They could have run away, but instead they attacked the lion as soon as James’ limp body was on the ground. They killed the lion and used their clothing to bandage James. They carried him to a cave and began treating him with plant medicine gathered in the bush. Only then did one of them run back to the village to relay the news.

For six months, he was nursed in the cave with bone marrow soup and plant medicine, until he was fit to walk back to the village. He returned — with the lion’s mane and tail dressing his spear — to a jubilant village.

Five-thousand warriors and thousands more Maasai crowded into James’ small village for the celebration. They composed songs and told stories to honor him. He became a celebrated warrior not just in his village, but in all of Maasailand. He became a junior elder and member of the Council of Elders. The leaders told him he could marry any woman of his choosing.

James had other plans. Though he would marry later, at his moment of triumph James chose instead to enroll in Moi University where he studied tourism. His education was supported by his village and an ecotourism group called Base Camp Foundation, for whom he worked during school and after graduation.

It was at Base Camp’s Maasai Mara ecolodge that he met an American tourist from Fountain Inn, Jimbo Burry, who became fascinated with the articulate young man so determined to pursue an education in order to help improve the lives of his people.

“He told me he wanted to get a master’s degree,” Burry said. “Now, keep in mind, he was sitting there with a spear in his hand. I said, ‘Well James, you have to have a four-year degree first.’” Burry was amazed to learn that James had just earned a degree, and the conversation set the two men on a path that would lead James to Clemson University, sponsored by the man he now affectionately calls Dad.

A boy from the village

James’ first taste of Clemson was the First Friday Parade, in which he carried the Kenyan flag.

“That really fascinated me. I have never seen in my life the solidarity and the unity of the University and the neighbors. I saw little kids lining up on the side of the road. … I saw the elders, the senior citizens, standing up to show solidarity and unity and togetherness with Clemson and the entire student community who turned up to march with me and the band and the Tigers. … That made me feel more attached and I developed a deeper belonging to Clemson University as a community and I said, ‘God, now I’m here. You brought me from the bush and now I am here and this is a top-class university and they accepted me.’ So I had to do something for the university,” James said.

Now that he’s a graduate student, James has two objectives: to make the most of his education and to show the University and community how much he appreciates the opportunity. When he returns to Kenya, he wants to help manage the rich natural resources that are the mainstay of Maasai culture — the Maasai Mara and the Mau Forest. In Clemson, meanwhile, he visits local groups, from schoolchildren to nursing homes, to share his story and culture. He carries with him the very spear he used to defeat the lion.

“In my heart, Clemson University has done so much for me. They got me from the village to where I am now,” James said. “Me, a boy from the village at a top-class university! I must work hard. I must work hard. This is a miracle to me. To be here, is God. I must work hard because I know where I came from and where I am now. So I have to do something for Clemson.”

What a remarkable story, such a courageous young man. Congratulations on your University degree James. All the very best to you and your family from African Art Online

Kind Regards
Tania Bale
African Art Online

Meserani Snake Park is located in Tanzania, East Africa.

The snake park is located 25km west of Arusha on the route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater.

Meserani Snake Park provides a free medical health clinic, with over a 1000 patients per month and rising. The clinic treats many medical emergencies, a common issue is treatment for infections and snakebites.

The clinic employs two-full time nurses. The clinic is open 24 /7, 365 days a year.

The owner operators of Meserani Snake Park Berry and Lynn Bale pay for all the salaries and medical supplies.

A physician assistant and a paramedic, both from Prineville, became friends with Wade Bale and learned about the Meserani Snake Park. They visited the facility two years’ ago and agreed with the Bales that a new clinic was needed to better serve the area, as the existing facility was much too small, not adequately supplied and too far away from the Snake Park itself. Upon returning to Central Oregon, these two, along with Wade Bale, his wife, Susan, and others who had also visited the Snake Park, formed  Mbuyu Charities. The word comes from the local dialect, meaning “Baobab,” a tree that is plentiful in the area. This tree is often called “The Tree of Life,” and it is the goal of the organization to be able to provide hope and life to people living in the Meserani region.

Thanks to generous contributors, the Bales were presented with a $4,000 gift to begin construction of a new clinic.  Since Berry Bale is also an engineer, plans were formulated and construction began quickly, using the Maasai as laborers. Nevertheless, this first influx of funds covers only about 1/3 of the total cost of construction.

The current clinic is now housing five orphans as well as caring for close to 50 patients a day. This is a project that needs to be finished, not only to provide for better and more centrally located medical care, but so that the old clinic can be transformed into an orphanage.

Mbuyu Charities sent a team of medical professional to Tanzania, please view the video’s right here.
Part 1
Part 2

The Tanzania trip was very successful, they treated over 1000 patients and one baby Elephant.

Through your support Meserani Snake Park has been able to move forward and provide the local people with a better quality of life.

Meserani Snake Park and Mbuyu Charities is greatly thankful.

Awesome stuff.

Tania Bale
African Art Online.Com

Novica in association with National Geographic has made a huge impact for many Artisan’s around the globe.

Novica was the  first-ever microfinance website where customers can purchase products and lend money directly to artisans.

Now,  into their 10th anniversary, Novica continues  helping artisans expand their businesses by providing access to microcredit.

In the Novica spirit, they cut out all the financial middlemen and took the matter into their own hands!

With no middlemen involved in the process, the Artisan’s Loans carry 0% interest.

Yes – artisans will not be charged any interest. This revolutionary concept is possible only because Novica has offices in developing nations working directly with artisans and fulfilling customer orders. Now, Novica’s offices will also serve as disbursement centers for Artisan Loans, providing artisans access to the credit that they need to grow. It’s a very exciting time.

The microfinance program is crucial to helping artisans attain funds in order to expand their crafts and workmanship.

There are a few artists from Africa that are currently involved in the microfinance program, such as Chief Carver Nana Frimpong.

Nana Frimpong was in need of more raw materials and to purchase a wood cutting machine. Nana also employs several workers, which he feels solely responsible to keep them employed.

Nana Frimpong’s loan request was for $1,000, this loan request has recently been fully funded.

A detailed list of the current microfinance loans can be found here at Novica’s Microfinance List
The list also allows people to see who has helped in funding that particular artist.

View artists from Africa, Bali, Brazil, Andes.

Even a small loan makes a great difference, helping an artist achieve
the vision they have for their business and their future.

Go check out the artists and the wonderful range of beautiful products.

I have personally purchased from Novica. A set of 6 Amethyst blown glass goblets by Javier and Efrén, from Mexico.
I’m almost to scared to use them, they are so beautiful.
Fantastic work.

Well done Novica!                  

All the best

Tania Bale
Director
African Art Online

This is a story of a young man who has made such a difference to the local people in East Africa.

Max Griffiths had a dream and that dream has come true. This is his story.

“I once heard a wise man say that Africa was like water in the desert – once you’ve had a taste you’ll just keep coming back for more.

It’s true. I first came to Africa in 2000, and have been every year since then, spending months on the continent in stints ranging from a couple of weeks to six months, mostly in Tanzania. My thirst shows no sign of being quenched.

I’m now sat at home in my East London flat, looking at my various videos and photos of my time in Africa, and there’s an aching in my body to return to the dusty plains. It’s got me thinking about what exactly is it that keeps me heading back… After all I live in a tent in Tanzania, water is sparse, dangerous animals are common (well more so than in London Bridge), and it’s almost impossible to get a proper pint of ale.

It’s these things that make Africa appealing (well, all except the proper pint of ale). I love waking up in a tent every morning, my front room dotted with acacia trees and wild guinea fowl; the conserving of water and the environment generates a community spirit which you’ve not had in London since (I imagine) World War II; knowing there’s dangerous animals around makes me look at the environment more closely and understand it too. These are brilliant aspects of Africa, guaranteed to put a smile on my face, but it’s not what makes me tick.

The majority of my time in Africa has been spent doing development work, largely in an education center in Meserani, Tanzania. Back in three months in 2005 we turned a dusty bit of land into an education center. I could go on telling you that three years on it’s a huge success story, that we’ve given free education to nearly 2,000 local residents, helped them get jobs and provide for the future. But my mind doesn’t think like that, it thinks about the other few thousand residents who haven’t taken up the courses – through choice or barrier, it thinks about what courses we could be offering – in western medicine for cattle, in environmental preservation. It thinks about how we could help the incredible local clinic run by Meserani Snake Park (easily the best example of a successful development project I’ve ever seen), how we could provide the victims of the increasing AIDS epidemic, how we can help all those pastoral Maasai continue their lifestyles which make them happy. And when I think about all this, I think it’s all possible, every bit of it. There’s not a dash of doubt that ever crosses my mind and that’s because in Africa, ironically, things can and will happen faster and with greater effect than in the West. There’s no cynicism, there’s little bureaucracy, and there’s a whole heap of determination (although sometimes you will find that resting under a tree). That’s what makes me keep coming back – it’s that there’s an air of possibility in Africa, that good change can come, and that with a bit of diligence and determination then it will do.”

I have visited the Education Center at Meserani.. To see Max’s dream become a reality is magnificent. Max’s efforts have made such an impact on the local people. It has given them opportunity, hope, and a knew outlook on life. All ages attend the Meserani Education Center. One man that attends is in his 80’s right down to your pre-school children, all free of charge.

Well done Max and your team. If everyone thought like you do. The world would be a better place.

All the very best
Tania Bale
African Art Online

Zanzibar for such a small Island it is pouring with history. From ancient Arab and Persian emigrants, wars and revolutions, Sultans, Dr Livingstone, Freddy Mercury and the center of the slave trade.

This is my third trip to Zanzibar, I must say you certainly never get tired of this beautiful historical place.

Zanzibar is where Freddy Mercury was born. His house has since been turned into a gift shop. Thousands of tourists come to visit to see where the famous rock star lived.

Zanzibar Island is divided into two main islands, Pemba and Unguja. The population is approximately 800,000, of which 150,000 are found on Pemba. 95% Muslim, 5% Christian all living in harmony. The language spoken is Swahili. The climate hot and humid. The currency Tanzanian Shillings, although the locals will accept US dollars.

Major Industries on Zanzibar are Tourism, Spices and Fishing.

The old part of Stone Town is built from rock and Coral from the sea, little did they no about the damage they where causing to their coral reefs. One tiny piece of coral broken off will take up to 60 years to grow back.

Walk threw the narrow streets of Stone Town you will come across the most amazing doors, the big brass knobs on the outside of these doors was to stop the Elephants from leaning on them, luckily there are no Elephants on Zanzibar anymore.

That is a quick overview of Zanzibar, for now I will chat about the famous Spice Tour.

Beautiful aroma’s full the Island. Get a guided tour of Zanzibar’s Spice Island taste and smell the fresh spices.
All the spices are organically grown.

In the western world we use spices and herbs for mostly cooking purposes, not the locals of Zanzibar.

The Island grows a bush called Annatto, looks like a Lychee. From this the local people use it for dye in food and lipstick for the ladies. This is a bright red berry.

Soap Berry Tree is used for washing clothes and washing hair. It is a little brown berry, you open and rub into the water and lather it up in your hair.

Tamarind is a pod, its use making juice, the leaves are boiled and used for asthma in babies.

Cardomon used to spice up food and drinks such as rice, Indian bread, Tea and Coffee.

Ginger they make soda drinks, it is also used for tenderizing meat, and commonly used for sea sickness.

The Almond tree also known as the Umbrella Tree, the local fisherman use for timbers to make their Dhows.
Cloves is the biggest export on Zanzibar. The clove tree grows 10-15cm, they are all hand picked.
They pick the cloves when the bud is green then dry in the sun. They make oil from this for tooth ache, you can boil the clove then drink the water, this will help stop tummy ache.

Pineapple is used for the digestive system.

Cassavi is used to make crisps, it doesn’t look like your traditional crisp, but sure tastes good.

Zanzibar grows chilli’s which they call Pili-Pili ho-ho, the smaller the chilli the hotter.

Henna is picked and dried, grinned to a powder then used to make temporary tattoos.

Paw Paw also called Pa pain is used in the manufacture of chewing gum. Paw Paw is also applied to the skin if you should stand on a sea urchin. Rich in vitamins A&C.

The trunk of the Iodine tree is used to stop bleeding, the locals use this much like we would use a band aid.

Cinnamon is used in cooking, but the most fascinating thing about the cinnamon tree is. If you take the root of the tree it smells just like menthol, so this is commonly used in colds and flus much like vicks.

The root of the Tumaric tree is used for food colouring and dyeing mats.

Passion fruit leaves are boiled, this is to prevent high blood pressure.

Choco beans are sucked just like sweets.

Lemon grass is used as a mosquito repellent.

Kapok looks just like cotton, this is used in the manufacture of pillows and mattresses. The local fisherman also use this for binding up their dhows so they don’t sink.

Nutmeg is used for making alcohol, they also say to much nutmeg will make you hallucinate.
Many more spices are grown on the Island, Lang Lang used for perfumes. Vanilla, Jack Fruit, Bread Fruit Tree, Guara, Coconuts, Bananas, Avocado which they make juice from. And many more.

When your tour is over, relax and try some of the wonderful fruits that are grown on the Island.

Then you can head off to the local gift store and purchase some of the spices and teas you have just heard about.
You can even buy some beautiful soaps, body lotions and perfumes made right on the Island.

This is just one of the great places to visit while in Zanzibar, I was fascinated with the many uses of the spices.
This is one place you should put on your to do list.

Until next time
Kind Regards
Tania Bale
African Art Online

I wanted to share with you this amazing story of a Maasai Warrior who survived one of the most deadly snakes in the world, The Black Mamba.

Mesearni Snake Park is located in East Africa, Tanzania, 25km west of a town called Arusha. At the snake park they provide a free medical clinic. The snake park treats everything from your common cold to the more serious cases such as snake bites. Currently the Snake Park Medical Clinic treats over 1000 patients per month and climbing.

This particular day a young Maasai warrior, Ernest was herding his cows when one of his cows ran away. Ernest went to bring his cow back to the herd when he was struck by the ferocious Black Mamba.

He amazingly managed to do the right thing and not panic, which is probably one of the reasons he managed to survive.

With a snake bite if you panic, your heart will race faster, which will then make your blood pump quicker through your body, so the poison will travel faster.

Ernest then sat under a tree and tied a tourniquet around his leg to stop the poison spreading around his body. With most snake bites a pressure bandage is advised, not a tourniquet, however in this case it was a very good thing.

He sat calmly while his friend went off for help. Ernest’s friend arrived with a motor bike and drove him to the Snake Park Clinic. The time between being bitten and arriving a the clinic was 6 hours.

Because of the venom and the tourniquet his leg went numb and the poor guys foot dragged along the tarmac, which also caused fairly serious inquiry to his foot.

So you can imagine the serious condition Ernest was in when he arrived at the clinic.

Most Black Mamba bites in Tanzania are fatal. Thanks to Ernest’s quick thinking, his friends help and the great work at the Meserani Snake Parks Clinic he is one of the few to survive. It took 9 ampules of anti-venom to pull him through his terrifying experience with the Black Mamba.

Ernest spent 2 weeks at the Snake Park Clinic and made a full recovery. If you would like to hear Ernest’s story please visit Meserani Snake Park and watch his video.

Here is a copy of the documented notes of the treatment that was provided for Ernest.

All treatment provided at the Meserani Snake Parks Medical Clinic is free of charge.

Meserani Snake Park

NYAMAZELA TRADING COMPANY (T) LTD

P.O. Box 13669, MERU. ARUSHA.

TANZANIA EAST AFRICA

Mobile Phone B.J. 0754 445911, Lynn 0754 440800, Deon 0754 302179

PATIENT NAME: ERNEST OLODI

ADDRESS: KISONGO
SEX: MALE

AGE: 19 YRS

Bitten by Black Mamba

Bitten on 23/04/08 at 11am and arrive at 05:00pm on 23/04/08.

Treatment: 5:00pm INJ. Celestone 1 ml intramuscularly start and

5:05pm INJ. Hydrocortisone 100mg IV.

5:10pm IV Fluid NS a ½ liter with Antivenin 10 cc

Vital sign: 5:15pm BP- 130/80mmhg, Pulse- 80/min, Temp- 36.1c.

5:20pm BP- 120/70mmhg, Pulse- 74/min, Resp- 30/min.

Treatment:

6:30pm Antivenin finished without reaction.

6:31pm IV fluid NS a ½ liter

6: 40pm Cefotaxime 1g given IV.

24/04/08

Treatment 7:15am IV Fluid NS a ½ liter

7:16am INJ. Hydrocortisone 100mg given IV

Vital sign: 7:16 am Semi comatosed Pulse – 96/min, Temp- 36.5c,

7:20am Pulse- 80/min.

Treatment: 7:35am INJ. Celestone 1ccgiven IM

7:38am Antivenin 10mls given IV

Vital Sign: 7:40am Semi comatosed Respiration 29/min, Pulse- 92/min.

7:52am Pulse- 92/min, Respiration 26/min.

8:15am Pulse- 74/min, Respiration 28/min.

Treatment: 8:24am Antivenin 10cc given into NS a ½ liter IV

8:45am INJ. Dexamethasone 80mg IV

Vital Sign: 8:50am Semi comatosed Pulse- 78/min, Respiration- 30/min

Treatment 8:55am Antivenin 10cc added.

Vital Sign: 9:00pm Semi comatosed Pulse-72/min, Respiration 30/min

9:10pm Pulse-72/min, Respiration-33/min

9:20pm Temp-36.3c

9:35pm Respiration-28/min

9:42pm Respiration-33/min, Pulse-76/min

10:10 pm Pulse-88/min, Respiration-28/m

Treatment: 10:33pm Antivenin 10mls given IV

Vital sign: 10:35pm Semi comatosed Pulse-82/min, Respiration-26/min

10:58pm Pulse-72/min, Respiration-26/min

11:30pm Pulse- 76/min, respiration- 28/min

12:10pm Pulse- 74/in, Respiration- 28/min.

12:45pm pulse- 72/min, Respiration- 28/min.

1:05pm Pulse- 72/min, Respiration- 28/min.

Treatment: 1:15pm IV Fluid NS a ½ liter with Antivenin 10cc given.

Vital sign: 2:00pm Semi comatosed Pulse- 80/min, Respiration-28/min.

2:15pm Passing urine 400mls.

Vital sign: 2:30pm Semi comatosed Respiration- 22/min, Pulse- 78/min.

3:25pm Pulse- 76/min, BP- 130/80mmhg.

3:50pm Pulse- 77/min, Respiration- 26/min.

4:15pm Pulse- 76/min, Respiration- 26/min.

5:00pm Pulse- 76/min, Respiration- 26/min.

Treatment: INJ. Hydrocortisone 100mg IV

IV Fluid Dextrose 5% with Antivenin 10cc.

Vital sign: 6:40pm Contuse BP- 120/70mmhg, pulse- 76/min.

7:20pm Pulse- 78/min, BP- 110/60mmhg, Respiration- 30/min.

. 7:45pm Passing urine 400mls

8:20pm Pulse- 76/min, Respiration- 30/min. BP- 110/60mmhg.

10:00pm take one cup of tea.

Vital sign: 10:10pm Pulse- 76/min.

10:50pm Pulse- 74/min, Respiration- 24/min.

11:35pm a ½ cup of tea given,

11:45pm Pulse- 74/min, Respiration- 28/min.

25/04/08

Vital Sign: 12:45am Respiration- 24/min.

2:30am Respiration- 24/min, Pulse- 66/min.

3:15am one cup of tea given.

Treatment: 3:40amIV Fluid Dextrose 5% with Antivenin 10cc.

Vital sign: 3:55am Respiration- 26/min.

4:15am Pulse- 78/min, Respiration- 24/min.

5:38am Passing urine 450mls.

6: 20am BP- 120/60mmhg, Pulse- 66/min, Respiration- 28/min.

Treatment: 8:30am IV Fluid NS a ½ liter with Cefotaxime 2g and INJ.

Hydrocortisone 100mg IV

9:50am Passing urine 400mls

Vital Sign: 10:00am Pulse- 79/min, Respiration- 24/min.

11:00am Pulse- 76/min, Respiration- 28/min.

12:10pm Pulse- 74/min, Respiration- 26/min, Temperature- 37c.

1:15pm BP- 120/70mmhg, Pulse- 72/min.

2:20pm BP- 120/70mmhg, pulse- 72/min.

Treatment: 5:00pm IV Fluid NS a ½ liter.

INJ. Dexamethasone 80mg.

5:04pm Antivenin 10cc given.

Vital Sign: 5:07pm Pulse- 60/min, BP- 120/60mmhg, Respiration- 26/min.

5:50pm Pulse- 64/min.

8:00pm Antivenin stopped.

Pulse- 66/min, Bp- 120/60mmhg, Respiration- 26/min.

Well done to all the people that were involved in savings this young mans life.

Kind Regards

Tania Bale

African Art Online.Com

Well done to the London Maasai marathon runners. They had a fantastic time in London. The goal was to run the Marathon to raise money to provide cleaning drinking water for their village, and they certainly accomplished that.

The support was over whelming for them, and they couldn’t believe that all you had to do was run to raise money.

They got off to a bit of a bumpy start as one of the Maasai ended up in hospital. The Maasai take a special drink that they believe is to make them strong. He drank his potion before the race and ended up sick.

Kindly enough the organizers of the Marathon let him finish the race the next day.

They reportedly raised over £150,000, which is amazing. Now they have enough money to be able to get the contractors in to build them a bore hole which costs up to £30,000 for one bore whole.

Great effort from the Maasai and all the people that supported them.

You can pop over here and watch a video of them returning home. Very proud young warriors.

Lots of celebrations, dancing and singing into the small hours of the night.

Great work guys.

www.africanartonline.com

People run the London Marathon for all sorts of reasons, some run for fun, some run for a challenge to themselves and some run for charity.

This is exactly what Chris decided to do run the London Marathon to raise money for the Orphans at Meserani Snake Park

Chris had visited the Snake Park while he was on safari in Tanzania, and saw all the great projects that are in progress to help the community in Maasai Land Tanzania.

At Meserani Snake Park there is an Orphanage, so any help is most appreciated .

Here is Chris’s Marathon Report.

 

Job done, I surprised myself by finishing without stopping. I had only run two miles in the last month as I had various calf injuries so had to rest my legs and then tough it out. I finished in 4hrs 37mins (an hour later than originally planned when training) but am paying for it now as my legs are very sore, walking is difficult and I can only come down stairs walking backwards I should be fine soon. . And not a single blister thanks to 1000 mile socks.

It was a lovely day and really enjoyable. As well as 35,000+ runners there were thousands of supporters along the way and it was very rare that there wasn’t someone cheering us on. As well as people there were lots of different musicians playing along the way including brass bands, rock groups, Japanese drummers, Caribbean steel bands and many others. And in-between these there were local radio stations and disc jockeys playing pop music using speakers that were as big as me! Very noisy!

The weather was good most of the time, nice and cool. It did rain for about 30 minutes and later we had 5 minutes of hail stones.

There were all sorts of people from all over the world running for so many different charities. I saw two wombles (as they went past me!), a pie, three Batmans, nurses, many policemen, a camel and many others.

I saw the Maasai warriors on the way round and passed them on Tower Bridge. They were very popular with the crowd.

Overall a wonderful day with so much goodwill between crowds, runners and each other; it is a shame that people can’t always be like this.

My running shirt and marathon number will soon be winging their way to Tanzania where they will probably join various T shirts on display on the thatched ceiling of a lounge area in the overland camp at Messerani Snake Park.

I have attached some photos but have reduced them in size so they should download easily.

Thanks for all those who sponsored me on behalf of the orphanage building.——————–

I hope that you find this interesting.

Running done, I now have to chase family and friends who sponsored me and get the money together, something that is often harder and more time consuming than the run!

 

Bye for now.

 

Rgds

Chris Harper.

 

 

Well done to you again Chris and Congratulations on finishing the Marathon, and thank you also for thinking of the Orphans at the Snake Park. You have a big heart.

 

 

Chat again soon.

Cheers

Tania Bale

African Art Online.Com

63 Year Old Maasai Women And Her Twin
Grand Children

A amazing Maasai women walked for days to get to the Meserani Snake Parks medical clinic, with her twin grand children.

The twins aged 18 months weighed a mere 3.5 kgs each when they arrived at the clinic. I have twin girls, and they weighed 9 kgs and where 11 months old. What a huge difference.

The twins where immediately put onto drips as they where so dehydrated. They stayed at the clinic for 2 weeks, by the time they left they where nearly 13kgs.

The twins where so shy as they had never seen a Muzungu before, that is what they call a white person. After a week they warmed up to me, as I went to visit them often. I went through all my twins clothes and my clothes and took back some outfits for them. She was over the moon. When I went back the next day, she had dressed up her grand children in the clothes, and she had put a pair of socks on that I had given her.

We had a lot of laughs together, we couldn’t understand a word each of us where saying, but we got by with a lot of sign language. It was very funny.

I took my camera and asked if she would let me take their photo, she said yes, so I took some photo’s of them together and showed her on the digital camera, she laughed and laughed. I then printed a photo off for her and laminated it and took it back to her. You should have seen the look on her face, so grateful. This was the first and probably the last picture she will ever have of herself and her family. The Maasai women are such shy gentle people, they don’t like getting photo’s taken. The older girl in the picture above is her daughter, she had 13 children. One daughter had died from aids, which is why she was caring for her grand children.

After a week at the clinic I went to visit them one day and she was pointing to the children showing me some spots on their skin, I was pretty sure it was chicken pocks, so I dabbed some calamine lotion on the children. Later on that night at the snake park their was a nurse staying, she was on safari and said she would go and have a look at them, sure enough it was chicken pocks, I was very tempted to take my twins over so they could get the chicken pocks and get it over and done with.

The Meserani Snake Park Clinic has approximately 1000 patients through the door each month, from your common cold to more serious issues, such as snake bites. All medical care is free of charge.

Meserani Snake Park is in the process of building a knew clinic, as the clinic also acts as an orphanage.

The new clinic will be a double story building, to accommodate volunteer doctors and nurses. The clinic will have separate men’s and women’s quarters.   I can see after the new clinic is built that the orphanage will expand as well.

So the family left after 2 weeks, fit and healthy and still wearing the socks I had given her 2 weeks earlier. Thanks to the Meserani Snake Parks clinic, these people do have a chance. I haven’t seen the family back at the medical clinic, which is a great sign everything is going well for them.

Until next time
Kind Regards
Tania Bale
African Art Online.Com

Hi again, I don’t no where to begin. We have had so many snake bite victims recently, but if treated immediately you have 100% chance to survive. Even the most deadliest snake. I feel very sad at the unfortunate tragedy that happened 2 nights ago. A little 12 year old Maasai girl was bitten by a snake, we are unsure of what type of snake. Her village took her to a witch doctor in the bush some where and gave her allsorts of stuff that will certainly not help a snake bite victim. Where I am living at the moment is a place called Meserani Snake Park. It is in Tanzania, Africa. At the snake park is a medical clinic, which has anti-venom for snake bites. They eventually brought the little girl here to the clinic, but it was too late, she died. It is very sad to know that if she had been brought to the clinic first, she would have lived. These witch doctors are absolute butchers. It happens over and over again with these so called doctors. The Maasai people travel for miles and miles to come to the medical clinic here at Meserani. The clinic gets about 1000 patients threw the door each month and growing. They come with allsorts of issues from your common cold to people that might need more serious medical treatment and need to be sent to Nairobi to get specialized assistance. The Meserani clinic is absolutely free of charge. So I find it extremely difficult to understand why they took her to the witch doctor in the first place. I do understand that they probably want to have some faith in their own doctors, sure for a common cold maybe, not a snake bite. Meserani Snake Park is working extremely hard to build a new Medical Clinic to help the people in Maasai Land Tanzania. At present the medical clinic is a clinic come Orphanage. When the new clinic is complete it will be a double story with free accommodation for volunteer doctors and nurses to stay.
There will be men’s and women’s quarters for the patients. You can pop over here and check out the new development with the clinic.

These video clips will be updated as we progress. We have to really try and educate the Maasai community, about the importance of getting proper medical treatment for snake bite victims as soon as possible. I feel very sad for the victim’s family and I wish I could say this will never happen again but I no this not to be true. It is fantastic when they bring buses full of school children to Meserani Snake Park; they get a guided tour of all the different types of snakes, and learn which are dangerous and which are not.The children get to hold a Brown House Snake, which is always fun to watch as they are so funny with the expressions on there face. If the Maasai children are educated at a young age about snakes then hopefully the next generation will be able to deal with this problem better. Kind Regards
Tania Bale
www.africanartonline.com